The Cincinnati Bengals have one of the top offenses in the NFL, and it runs through star quarterback Joe Burrow.
The 28-year-old signal-caller is coming off one of the better passing seasons in recent memory, in which he threw for 4,918 yards, 43 touchdowns and nine interceptions while completing 70.6% of his passes with a 108.5 passer rating.
Some analysts felt Burrow should've gotten more consideration for MVP after leading the NFL after leading the league in passing yards and touchdowns, and finishing fourth in completion percentage; however, that honor went to Buffalo Bills QB Josh Allen.
The 29-year-old Wyoming alum had one of the statistically worst seasons of his career (3,731 yards passing, 28 touchdowns, six interceptions), but he led the Bills to a 13-3 record and nearly had them playing in their first Super Bowl since 1994 before running into Patrick Mahomes and the Kansas City Chiefs.
While the debate about which quarterback is the best in the NFL-a designation that Burrow and Allen are 100% in the running for-is one that get many people fired up, Bengals wide receiver Ja'Marr Chase tried to make a case for his QB during an appearance on FanDuel TV's "Up & Adams" on Tuesday - only it backfired.
Chase was seemingly trying to explain why Burrow stands out above Allen, but he actually ended up making the case that opposing defensive coordinators fear Allen more than Burrow.
"When you turn on Joe's tape, it's different than Josh Allen's tape," Chase said. "People game plan against Josh Allen, not against Joe Burrow. They plan against his game weapons, you know what I'm saying."
In Chase's defense, a few seconds earlier he was explaining exactly what makes Burrow one of the best at his position.
"Honestly, I feel like he has it all - the timing, the accuracy, the placement, the speed, the awareness - he has it," Chase stated. "The field recognition, I mean, what else? He audibles in the backfield."
Burrow and Allen have only went head-to-head twice in their NFL careers.
Cincinnati edged out Buffalo for a 24-18 victory in Week 9 of the 2023 season, and again two months later in the AFC Divisional Playoffs in a 27-10 Cincinnati win.
In those games, Burrow passed for 590 yards, four touchdowns and zero interceptions with a passer rating of 105.4 and 35 rushing yards on 11 carries. Conversely, Allen passed for 522 yards, one touchdown, and two interceptions with a passer rating of 76.6 along with 70 yards rushing and two more scores.
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